Table top structure



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i 4 (\OM/WIZVATTORNEY- Jan. 23, 1940; H. a. RICHARDSON TABLE TOPSTRUCTURE Filed Feb. 2, 1938 Patented Jan. 23, 1940 TABLE TOP STRUCTUREHarry B. Richardson, Roselle, N. J. Application February? 1938, SerialNo. 188,241

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in table tops, and isespecially adapted for use on kitchen or laboratory tables wherein thetop itself is made of formed sheet metal and is coated with aporcelain-like or vitreous coating.

The important feature of the present construction lies in the provisionof means whereby to easily attach a wooden-edge framing all round theouter edges of the metal table top, on the under-surface thereof,thereby to assemble the framing and top in a firmly united assembly.Such construction as shown herein, is economical, andsuch portions ofthe framing as are exposed may be of an ornamental nature.

A further feature of advantage is in the arrangement of the framing,whereby the exposed outer edge portions thereof may extend beyond thecoated edges of the table top, thereby to act as a buffer and to therebyprotect the said coated edges from chipping. Heretofore vitreous coatedtable tops have been made with an integral, coated, depending flange allround the top, and this exposed edge, in handling or shipping becomesbadly chipped, to the detriment of the appearance of the top. Suchchipped places, if the metal table top is made of sheet iron are thensubject to rusting, which further spoils the appearance of the top,especially where the coating is of white enamel.

Jf'he provision of a wooden frame edge as herein disclosed, furtherobviates the manufacturing difliculties encountered in the self-flangingof such table tops, as is now the practice.

As will be noted hereinafter there are several ways of obtaining thedesired assembly, but all of the modifications are equivalent in theaccomplishment of the desired construction and resultant advantages andeconomy.

The foregoing and other features of advantage will be apprehended as theherein description proceeds, and it will be obvious that modificationsmay be made in the disclosed structure without departing from the spiritthereof or the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled to partially sectioned andenlarged to show the coacting parts;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of a table top, showing the framing thereof, asdisclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the framing clamps;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the metal top and its frameengaging flange;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, taken transversely in Fig. 2, onthe line 66, Fig." 2, W looking in the direction of the arrows. 8-

The present improved construction assembly, as disclosed in Fig. 1,comprises a metal table top I, in the present instance of rectangularformation, having an integral underturned flange 2 all round itsperipheral edges. The flanges are 10} so formed as to leave apredetermined space 3 between the table top and said flange, the flangebeing parallel to the plane of the top I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The wooden framing, generally denoted byW, comprises four strips ofwood, or material of a similar nature, best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, saidstrips being matched at their adjacent corners by flattened mortises '1,Figs. 2 and 5. The peripheral dimension of the framing W, when joined atthe corners, and in operative assembly to the top I, as viewed in Fig.2, is slightly larger than the width and length of the top I, so thatthe outer frame edges E extend protectively beyond the table top edgesto protect said edges against chipping of the vitreous coating thereon,during handling and shipping of the finished product.

As a means for holding the frame and top portions in firmly unitedassembly, a series of metal angle clamps 4, one of which is shown inperspective in Fig. 3, are provided, one leg of each clamp beingprovided with a countersunk screw hole 5, whereby to permit of screwingthe clampsby wood screws 6 to the inside face of the framing, about asshown in Fig. 2. I

The undrilled legs 4' of the clamps 4, in one form of assembly, areentered and fitted into the space or gap 3 between the flange 2 and topI, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and then the frame is laidupon the bottomof the top I, the frame is 40 thus ,set on the clamps 4, in about thepositions noted in Figs. 2 and 6, and then they are screwed to theinside faces of the frame strips by the screws 6. Other methods ofassembling the above structure are also available.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that the screwing of the clampsupon the frame tends to I drive the clamps in opposite directions andthereby imposes an expanding pressure of the clamps upon the flangedperimeter of the top I, and thereby locks the top firmly to the framesections W, and also tends, reactively, to lock the strips of the framefirmly together.

The foregoing improvement will be noted as having a flanged table .tOP.the flange being 55 turned out of the plane of the top to form anexposed edge, with a supplemental under-frame the outer edges of whichare exposed and supplement the edge of the table top, the frame havingflange and top engaging means to operatively lock the top, flange andframe assembly together.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination a horizontal rectangular frame, the outer faces of theframe members being substantially vertical, the upper outer horizontalcorner margin of each member being provided with a longitudinal rabbetgroove forming an inner longitudinal shoulder and a narrow horizontalface and leaving a wide top face; a sheet metal table top having narrowunderturned edge flanges disposed on said narrow face against saidshoulder, and forming a rigid rounded outer edge; and a series of metalangle pieces having a fiat portion on said wide top face of each memberwith its outer end edge engaged over and against the inner margin ofsaid flange and against the-upper, lower and lateral inner face of therounded outer edge portion of the top; and means for securing the metalangle pieces to the frame.

2. In combination a horizontal rectangular frame, the outer faces of theframe members being substantially vertical, the upper outer horizontalcorner margin of each member being provided with a longitudinal rabbetgroove forming an inner longitudinal shoulder and a narrow horizontalface and leaving a wide top face; and a sheet metal table top having avitreous coating thereon and having narrow underturned edge flangesdisposed on said narrow face against said shoulder, and forming arounded outer edge; a series of metal angle clamps having a lower fiatportion disposed adjacent to the inner face of the member and providedwith a central countersunk screw hole, and an upper fiat portion restedon said wide top face of each member with its outer end edge engagedover and against the inner margin of said flange and against the innerface of the rounded outer edge portion of the top; and a screw passingthrough said hole into the member and adjustably forcibly pressing saidupper portion against the rounded inner face of the flange; said roundedouter edge being inset from the outer face of the frame, whereby theframe protects the vitreous coating of the rounded edge from chipping.

HARRY B. RICHARDSON.

